The Football Forecast

Watford 4-1 Chelsea: Five Things We Learned

Watford produced an excellent display to defeat 10-man Chelsea with a 4-1 win at Vicarage Road. Here are five things we learned.

Conte will have to wait a while longer for public support

Just 24 hours ago, Antonio Conte was asking Chelsea to give him a statement of support to show that the club were backing him regardless of the speculation around his future. After tonight’s 4-1 defeat against Watford, he may have to accept that any statement of support won’t be happening anytime soon.

Before this meeting between the two sides, Watford were winless in their last 13 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions. They had drawn three times and lost the other 10. The last time they beat Chelsea? September 1999.

Tiemoue Bakayoko was sent off after 30 minutes for two yellow card offences. On both occasions, his first touch was terrible and in trying to get the ball back, he fouled the opposing player. Bakayoko has been unconvincing in Chelsea’s midfield all season and this was one of his worst performances to date.

Chelsea have been shown seven red cards in all competitions this season. Only Grimsby Town (8) have been shown more red cards in English football this season.

Watford signed Gerard Deulofeu on loan from Barcelona during the January transfer window. He won Watford a penalty which captain Troy Deeney converted. Just like Harry Kane against Liverpool, Deulofeu clearly dived but the penalty was given.

As Chelsea capitulated, Deulofeu scored Watford’s third goal which was his first Premier League goal since December 28th, 2015 for Everton against Stoke.

The new year has not got off to the best start for Chelsea. The Blues have won only two of their ten competitive matches in 2018. For the first time under Antonio Conte, Chelsea conceded four goals in a single Premier League game. After back to back defeats, Antonio Conte’s men are currently 4th in the league with 50 points and Spurs just a point behind. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in two weeks.